Chemotherapy is a medical treatment that uses powerful drugs to destroy cancer cells. This approach is a common component of cancer care, aiming to either cure the disease, slow its progression, or alleviate symptoms. This article focuses on systemic chemotherapy, a specific type where medications travel throughout the entire body to address cancer.
Understanding Systemic Chemotherapy
Systemic chemotherapy involves drugs that circulate throughout the bloodstream to reach cancer cells located in various parts of the body. This contrasts with localized treatments, such as surgery or radiation therapy, which target a specific tumor site.
The primary goal of systemic chemotherapy is to treat cancer that has spread from its original location or to eliminate cancer cells that might not be visible. It can be used to treat metastatic cancer, meaning cancer that has spread to distant organs. Additionally, it might be employed after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells and reduce the chance of the cancer returning.
How Systemic Chemotherapy Works
Systemic chemotherapy drugs function by interfering with the fundamental processes that allow cells to grow and divide. Cancer cells are characterized by their rapid and uncontrolled division, making them particularly susceptible to these medications. The drugs target various stages of the cell cycle, disrupting DNA replication, protein synthesis, or cell division itself, which ultimately leads to the death of the cancer cell.
While these drugs are designed to be most effective against fast-growing cancer cells, they can also affect healthy cells in the body that naturally divide rapidly. Examples of such healthy cells include those found in hair follicles, the lining of the digestive tract, and bone marrow. This impact on healthy, rapidly dividing cells is the underlying reason for many of chemotherapy’s common side effects.
Administering Systemic Chemotherapy
Systemic chemotherapy can be administered through several different methods, depending on the specific drug, the type of cancer, and the patient’s overall health. One common method is intravenous (IV) infusion, where the medication is delivered directly into a vein, often in the arm or hand, using a needle and tubing. This allows the drugs to enter the bloodstream quickly.
Another frequent administration route is oral, where patients take chemotherapy drugs in pill or capsule form by mouth. These medications are absorbed into the bloodstream through the digestive system, similar to other oral medications. Less common methods include injections into a muscle or under the skin. Chemotherapy treatments are given in cycles, with periods of treatment followed by periods of rest to allow the body to recover.
Managing Common Side Effects
Because systemic chemotherapy travels throughout the body, it can affect healthy cells and lead to a range of side effects. Fatigue is a common side effect, an overwhelming tiredness not relieved by rest. Managing it involves balancing activity with adequate rest periods. Nausea and vomiting are common, but can be controlled with anti-nausea medications prescribed before or during treatment.
Hair loss is a common side effect, as chemotherapy drugs target rapidly dividing cells in hair follicles; hair usually regrows after treatment. Systemic chemotherapy can also affect the bone marrow, leading to lower blood cell counts, which may result in anemia (low red blood cells), increased risk of infection (low white blood cells), or bruising and bleeding (low platelets). To manage low blood counts, doctors may prescribe medications to stimulate blood cell production or recommend precautions like avoiding crowds to prevent infections. Patients are advised to maintain a balanced diet and stay hydrated to support their body and mitigate some side effects.